Case Study 15

Creating sustainable products from porcine bones

Sonac Vuren in the Netherlands, part of Darling Ingredients International, processes food grade bones to create high value products with a range of applications. Sonac Vuren has a bone degreasing line, similar to rendering and a protein extraction line, similar to a gelatine process.

Food grade raw materials are sourced from bones as a by-product from the meat industry. All raw materials are from healthy animals, approved ante and post-mortem and fit for human consumption.

Food grade raw materials are sourced from porcine bones as a by-product from the meat industry. All raw materials are from healthy animals, approved ante and post-mortem and fit for human consumption.

In the pre-treatment or bone degreasing stage the raw material is washed and chopped. Then the bone chips are cooked to transfer the protein from the bones into water. 

The bone degreasing line produces bone chips, meat meal, fat and stick water / powder called Gelko. The protein extraction line produces bone collagen, bone ash and a hydroxyapatite called Collaphos. A further stage produces a collagen hydrolysate called Hydro P Premium. These products have various applications as illustrated in Figure 1 below.

The primary applications are in food, animal and pet feed, energy and fertiliser but there are also some  interesting technical applications such as in bone china ceramics, nonferrous foundries and other industrial applications as illustrated in the figures below.

Case Study 15 - Version 2, May 2025